John Hoover (baseball)

John Hoover
John Hoover
	Hoover in 1988
	Pitcher
	Born: December 22, 1962; Fresno, California, U.S.
	Died: July 8, 2014 (aged 51); Fresno, California, U.S.
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
	May 23, 1990, for the Texas Rangers
Last MLB appearance
	May 25, 1990, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	0–0
Earned run average	11.57
Innings pitched	4.2
Teams
	Texas Rangers (1990);
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing United States
Olympics
Pan American Games

John Nicklaus Hoover (December 22, 1962 – July 8, 2014) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the No. 25 draft choice in the first round in 1984 (by the Baltimore Orioles), after having led the nation in strikeouts in college baseball, pitching 205 strikeouts for Fresno State in his senior year.^[1] Also in 1984 Hoover was a starting pitcher for the United States Olympic baseball team, winning the opening game and helping the US to win the silver medal for baseball.^[2] His teammates on the Olympic team included Mark McGwire, Barry Larkin, Will Clark, and Oddibe McDowell.

In 1983, Hoover pitched the opening game at the IX Pan American Games, for an 8-0 victory over the Dominican Republic, helping to win the bronze medal for the United States team.^[3]

Hoover signed with the Orioles while still at the Summer Olympics on August 3, 1984.^[4] He played for the Texas Rangers in the 1990 season, but had a shortened pro-baseball career due to injuries sustained as a college player.^[5] He died on July 8, 2014, apparently of natural causes.^[6]

Prior to attending Fresno State, he attended Fresno High School, graduating in 1980 and Cooper Junior High School in Fresno, graduating in 1977.^[7]

References

^ Davis, Jeff. 1989. "Fun Back in Baseball for Hoover," The Fresno Bee (August 26, 1989)
^ Woody, Doyle. 1993. "One for the Ages," Anchorage Daily News (July 11, 1993), p. K20
^ The Fresno Bee (August 16, 1983)
^ "Hoover Signs With Orioles," The Associated Press (AP), Sunday, August 5, 1984. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
^ Davis, Jeff. 1989. "Fun Back in Baseball for Hoover," The Fresno Bee (August 26, 1989)
^ Anteola, Bryant-Jon. 2014. Former Fresno State baseball ace John Hoover dead at age 51, The Fresno Bee (July 19, 2014).
^ John Hoover in the Cooper Junior High School yearbook, Visions 1977, page 45.